29 And he spake a parable to them, Behold the figgo tree and all the trees. When they now fhoot forth,

ye fee and know of yourfelves, that fummer is now 31 nigh. So likewife when ye fee these things come to 32 pals, know that the kingdom of God is nigh. Verily

I fay unto you, this generation fhall not pafs away, till 33 all things be effected. Heaven and earth fhall pafs 34 away, but my words fhall in no wife pafs away. But 'take heed to yourselves, left at any time your hearts be over-loaded with gluttony and drunkenness, and the cares of this life, and fo that day come upon you una35 wares. For as a fnare fhall it come on all them that 36 fit on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore and pray always, that ye may be counted worthy to efcape all these things which will come to pafs, and

37

to ftand before the Son of Man.

Now by day he was teaching in the temple; and at night going out he lodged at the mount called the mount

V. 29. Behold the fig-tree and all the trees-Chrift fpake this in the fpring, juft before the paffover; when all the trees were budding on the mount of Olives, where they then were.

V. 30. Ye know of your felves-Though none teach you.

V. 31. The kingdom of God is nigh-The destruction of the Jewish city, temple, and religion, to make way for the advancement of my kingdom.

V. 32. Till all things be effected-All that has been spoken of the deftruction of Jerufalem, to which the queftion, yer. 7. relates: and which is treated of from the 8th to the 24th verfe.

V. 34. Take heed left at any time your hearts be overloaded with glut tony and drunkennefs-And was there need to warn the apoftles themfelves, against fuch fins as thefe? Then furely there is need to warn even ftrong chriftians, against the very groffeft fins. Neither are we wife, if we think ourselves out of the reach of any fin: And fo that dayOf judgment or of death come upon you, even you that are not of this world-unawares.

V. 35. That fit-Carclefs and at cafe.

V. 36. Watch ye therefore-This is the general conclufion of all that precedes. That ye may be counted worthy-This word fometimes fignifies an honour conferred on a perfon, as when the apoftles are faid, to be counted worthy to fuffer fhame for Chrift, (A&ts v. 41.) Sometimes met or becoming as when John the Baptift exhorts, To bring fruits worthy of repentance (Luke iii. 8. And fo to be counted worthy to escape, is, To have the honour of it, and to be fitted or prepared for it. To flandWith joy and triumph: not to fall before Him, as his enemies.

V. 37. Now by day -In the day-time, he was teaching in the templeThis fhews how our Lord employed his time, after coming to Jerus falem but it is not faid, He was this day in the temple, and next morning the people came. It does not therefore by any means imply, That he came any more after this into the temple.

V. 38. And

Mat. xxiv. 42. Mark xiii. 33. Ch. xii. 35.

28 of Olives. And all the people came early in the morn ing to him in the temple to hear him.

XXII.

Now the feaft of unleavened bread drew night 2 which is called the paffover. And the chief Priests and Scribes fought how they might kill him; but they feared the people.

3 Then entered Satan into Judas, furnamed Ifcariot 4 being of the number of the twelve. And he went

and talked with the chief Priests and Captains, how he 5 might betray him to them. And they were glad and 6 agreed to give him money. And he promifed and fought opportunity to betray him to them, in the ab fence of the multitude.

And the first day of unleavened bread was come, 8 when the paffover was to be killed. And he fent Peter and John, faying, Go and make ready the pass 9 over for us, that we may eat it. And they faid to him, 10 Where wilt thou that we make it ready? And he faid to them, Behold, when yo are entered into the city, a man will meet you bearing a pitcher of water; 41 follow him into the house where he entereth.

1

And

fay to the mafter of the house, The mafter faith to thee, Where is the guest-chamber, where I fhall eat 12 the passover with my difciples ? And he will fhew you a large upper-room furnifhed: there make ready, 13 And they went, and found as he had faid to them. And they made ready the paffover.

14 And when the hour was come, he fat down, and 15 the twelve apoftles with him. And he faid to them,

With defire have I defired to eat this paffover with

V. 38. And all the people came early in the morning to hear him→→ How much happier were his difciples in thefe early lectures, than the flumbers of the morning could have made them on their beds! Let us not fcruple to deny ourselves the indulgence of unneceffary fleep, that we may morning after morning place ourselves at his feet, receiving the inftructions of his Word and feeking thofe of his Spirit.

V. 3. Then entered Satan-Who is never wanting to affift thofe, whofe heart is bent upon mischief.

V. 4. Captains Called Captains of the temple, ver. 52. They were Jewish officers, who prefided over the guards which kept watch every night in the temple.

V. 15. With defire have I defired-That is, I have earnestly defired it. He defired it, both for the fake of his disciples, to whom he defired Mark xiv. 1. + Mat. xxvi. 17.

* Mat. xxvi, 1,

VOL. 1.

Mat. xxvi. 20.
2

Mark xiv. 17.

Mark xiv. 12,

manife

16 you,

before I fuffer. For I fay to you, I will not eat thereof any more, till it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And he took the cup and gave thanks and faid, 18. Take this and divide it among yourselves. For I fay

to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine till the 19 kingdom of God fhall come. And he took bread, and gave thanks and brake it, and gave to them, faying, This is my body which is given for you; do this in 20 remembrance of me. Likewise alfo the cup after fup

per, faying, This cup is the New Teftament in my 21 blood which is fhed for you. But behold, the hand

of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table. 22 And truly the Son of Man goeth as it was determined;

but wo to that man, by whom the Son of Man is be23 trayed. And they enquired among themselves, Which 24 of them it was, that would do this? There was also

manifeft himself further, at this folemn parting: and for the fake of his whole Church, that he might inflitute the grand memorial of his death.

V. 16. For I will not eat thereof any more-That is, It will be the last I fhall eat with you before I die. The kingdom of God did not properly commence till his refurrection. Then was fulfilled what was typified by the paffover.

V. 17. And he took the cup-That cup which used to be brought at the beginning of the pafchal folemnity, and faid, Take this and divide it among yourselves: for I will not drink-As if he had faid, Do not expect

me to drink of it: I will drink no more before I die.

V. 19. And he took bread-Namely, fome time after, when fupper was ended, wherein they had eaten the Pafchal Lamb This is my body-As he had just now celebrated the Pafchal supper, which was called the paffover, fo in like figurative language, he calls this bread his body. And this circumftance of itfelf was fufficient to prevent any mistake, as if this bread was his real body, any more than the Paschal Lamb was really the passover.

V. 20. This cup is the New Teftament-Here is an undeniable figure, whereby the cup is put for the wine in the cup. And this is called, The New Teftament in Chrift's blood, which could not poffibly mean, that it was the New Teft ment itfelf, but only the seal of it, and the sign of that blood which was fhad to confirm it.

V. 21. The hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table-It is evident, Chrifl fpake thefe words, before he infiituted the Lord's Supper: for all the other Evangelifts mention the fop, immediately after receiving which he went out: (John xiii. 30.) (Nor did he return any more, tili he came into the garden, to betray his Mafter.) Now this could not be dipped or given, but while the meat was on the table. But this was all removed before that bread and cup were brought.

V. 7. 24. There was also a contention among them--It is highly probable, this was the fame difpute, which is mentioned by St. Matthew and St. Mark; and confequently, though it is related here, it happened some sime before.

V. 25. They

a contention among them, Which of them was greatest. 25 And he faid to them, The kings of the Gentiles lord it

over them, and they that exercise authority over them 26 have the title of benefactors. But ye shall not be fo: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the 27 leaft, and he that is chief as he that ferveth. For which is greater, he that fitteth at table, or he that ferveth? Is not he that fitteth at table? But I am in 28 the midst of you as he that ferveth. Ye are they who 29 have continued with me in my temptations. And I ap point to you a kingdom, as my Father has appointed to 30 me, That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and fit on thrones, judging the twelve trihes of 31 Ifrael. And the Lord faid, Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath defired to have you, that he might fift you 32 as wheat. But I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not; and when thou art returned, ftrengthen 33 thy brethren. And he faid to him, Lord, I am

ready to go with thee both to prison, and to death. 34 And he faid, I tell thee, Peter, it fhall not be the time of cock-crowing this day, before thou wilt thrice deny

V. 25. They that exercise the most arbitrary authority over them, have from their flatterers the vain title of benefactors.

V. 26. But ye are to be benefactors to mankind, not by governing, but by-serving.

V. 27. For-This he proves by his own example. I am in the midft of you-Juft now: fee with your eyes, I take no state upon me, but in the midft, on a level with the lowest of you.

V. 28. Ye have continued with me in my temptations-And all his life was nothing else, particularly from his entering on his public miniftry. V. 29. And I-Will preferve you in all your temptations, till ye enter into the kingdom of glory: Appoint to you-By these very words. Not a primacy 10 one, but a kingdom to every one: on the fame terms: As my Father hath appointed to me-Who have fought and conquered.

V. 36. That ye may eat and drink at my table-That is, that ye may en joy the higheft happinets as guefts, not as fervants. Thefe expreffions feem to be primarily applicable to the twelve apoftles, and fecondarily, to all Chrift's fervants and difciples, whofe fpiritual powers, honours, and delights, are here reprefented in figurative terms, with respect to their advancement both in the kingdom of grace and of glory.

V. 31. Satan hath defired to have you—My apofties, that he might fift you as wheat-Try you to the uttermoft.

V. 32. But I have prayed for thee-Who wilt be in the greatest danger of all; that thy faith fail not- -Altogether; And when thou art returned-From thy flight, ftrengthen thy brethren-All that are weak in faith; perhaps fcandalized at thy fall.

V. 34. It fhall not be the time of cock-crowing this day-The common time of cock-crowing (which is ufually about three in the morning)

probably

35 that thou knowest me. And he faid to them, When I fent you without purfe, and fcrip, and fhoes, lacked 36 ye any thing? And they faid, Nothing.

Then

faid he to them, But now he that hath a purfe, let him take it, and likewife his fcrip; and he that hath no 37 fword, let him fell his garment and buy one. For I fay to you, That this which is written muft yet be accomplished in me, *And he was numbered with the tranfgreffors. For the things concerning me have an 38 end. And they faid, Lord, behold here are two fwords. And he faid to them, It is enough. 39 And going out, he went, according to his custom, to the mount of Olives, and his difciples alfo followed 40 him. And when he was at the place he said to them, 41 Pray that ye enter not into temptation. And he was withdrawn from them about a ftone's caft, and kneel42 ing down he prayed, Saying, Father, if thou art willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, 43 but thine be done. And there appeared to him an 44 angel from heaven ftrengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earneftly and his fweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down on the probably did not come, till after the cock which Peter heard, had crowed twice if not oftner.

V. 35. When I fent you lacked ye any thing?-Were ye not borne above all want and danger?

V. 36. But now-You will be in quite another fituation. You will want every thing. He that hath no fword, let him fell his garment, and buy one -It is plain, this is not to be taken literally. It only means, This will be a time of extreme danger.

V. 37. The things which are written concerning me, have an endAre now drawing to a period; are now upon the point of being ac complished.

V. 38. Here are two fwords-Many of Galilee carried them when they travelled, to defend themfelves against robbers and an much infefted their roads. But did the apostles need to feek fuch defence? And he faid, It is enough-I did not mean literally, That every one of you must have a fword.

V. 40. The place-The garden of Gethsemane.

V. 43. Strengthening him—Lest his body should sink and die before the time.

V. 44. And being in an agony-Probably just now grappling with the powers of darknefs: feeling the weight of the wrath of God, and at the Jame time furrounded with a mighty hoft of devils, who exercifed all their force and malice to ne fecute and distract his wounded fpirit. He prayed more earnestly-Ev. ith ftronger cries and tears: And his fweat As cold as the weather : Was as it were great drops of blood

Ifaiah liii. 12. + Mat. xxvi. 30.

Which